Getting better on your own (4 great exercises!)

Parents and Friends,

We’ve all observed kids practicing on their own at the fields and they are nearly always doing the same thing… they’re taking shots.

Then they chase the ball down to take another.

Sure, it’s fantastic they’re out there having fun but it’s pretty much useless in terms of quality technical training.

It’s essentially wasted time because it’s not PRODUCTIVE.

When chatting with new families one of the main concerns they have is their child doesn’t know how to practice on their own

Their kid has never been encouraged to do so nor been given guidelines on how to individually improve their game.

At Soccer 1:1 every player in the program receives a handout on footwork, fundamentals and ball mastery exercises specific to practicing on your own.

And I make it a requirement that they follow through. 

How? The kids maintain soccer journals with their practice days and I read them at every session.

This makes players ACCOUNTABLE and the exercises they are doing take them out well out of their comfort zone.

Quite a few of our players practice every day and the gains they have made are there for everyone to see.

Moreover, they know themselves they are getting better because they have more CONFIDENCE.

Here are 4 great exercises our players use:

1) One bounce juggling: juggle leaving the ball bounce once.
2) Three touch juggling: take three juggles and on the third the ball goes into the air. Then control the ball out of the air.
3) Regular juggling: juggle the ball and keep it off the ground.
4) Play the ball off a wall: practice receiving, passing and one touch passing.

If you enjoyed today's message, please share it with a friend or fellow soccer enthusiast.

Chat soon,
Patrick
Soccer 1:1

P.S. On Saturday I will be running a second free skills clinic in San Francisco for kids aged 8 –11. There are a few more spots open and you can click here to register your child.